Restaurante Itaca

Top choice in Medellín


This tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the outskirts of downtown prepares fantastic, fairly priced gourmet plates bursting with flavor. At lunch there are a couple of set options while in the evening there is no menu – the friendly chef Juan Carlos will tell you what he has; go for a picada (mixed grill) if you can.

Vegetarians are well catered for while meat lovers should not leave without trying a portion of the homemade sausages, which have been proclaimed the best in Antioquia. On Sunday there's a big barbecue on the street outside. There's no sign – look for the blue door.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Medellín attractions

1. Catedral Metropolitana

0.37 MILES

Overlooking Parque de Bolívar, Medellín's neo-Romanesque cathedral was completed in 1931. Its spacious but dim interior has Spanish stained-glass windows.

2. Iglesia de San José

0.37 MILES

This landmark church on Av Oriental has immense stained-glass panels that light up the facade in the evenings.

3. Museo Casa de la Memoria

0.45 MILES

This harrowing museum dedicated to the urban conflict in Medellín is a must-visit for travelers wanting to fully understand the city (and Colombia). There…

4. Basílica de la Candelaria

0.49 MILES

Medellín's most important church stands guard over Parque Berrío and was constructed in the 1770s on the site of an earlier wooden structure. It features…

6. Plazoleta de las Esculturas

0.57 MILES

This public space in front of the Museo de Antioquia is home to 23 large, curvaceous bronze sculptures by renowned local artist Fernando Botero, including…

7. Museo de Antioquia

0.61 MILES

In the grand art deco Palacio Municipal, Colombia's second-oldest museum (Museo Nacional in Bogotá is the oldest) houses one of the country's most…

8. Ermita de la Veracruz

0.65 MILES

Constructed with funds from European immigrants, this fine church inaugurated in 1803 is the only colonial-style temple in the city and features a stone…